Mid Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust
The Trust knew a lot about Energy Services Performance Contracting under the Government's PFI programme, because they had already completed one project, installing a CHP at Stafford General Hospital; in fact they liked the idea so much, they decided on a second scheme. This new project was designed to further reduce the Trust's energy costs by increasing efficiency and reducing consumption, while improving the quality of the interior climate and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This required an holistic solution specially designed to meet the unique requirements of the Trust, combining both demand-side and supply-side energy issues.
Cynergin Consultants' solution included a CHP at Cannock Hospital; a complete lighting retro-fit at Stafford Hospital; a new DHW system at Stafford; and an automatic door system at both hospitals, to reduce heat losses and draughts, endemic in hospitals designed with long "street" corridors. A financial model was drawn up which proved not only self-funding over the term of the contract, but cash releasing, releasing funds for investment in clinical priorities.
Technical Solution
1. Supply Side
| Item | Rationale | Contractor or Sub-contractor |
| a. 300 kWe CHP using a gas-fired reciprocating engine. | Cogeneration of electricity and LPHW. | ABB Zantingh |
| b. New Plate heat exchangers | Replaced ageing calorifiers | Beel Boilers |
| c. Acoustic insulated enclosure and silenced exhaust stack | Quiet, safe operation | Beel |
| d. Silenced exhaust cooling fans | Quiet, maintains optimum heat above condensate levels | Beel |
| e. Metered outputs for tolling and CHPQA | Measures efficiency; enables parallel operation of CHP & standby Gensets | Carrier |
| f. Fail-safe monitoring and protection controls | Allows un-manned operation. | |
g. Plate Heat Exchangers & condensate recovery |
Improve quality & quantity of hot water |
2. Demand Side
| Item | Rationale | Contractor or Sub-contractor |
| h. Complete lighting retro-fit; hi-frequency / triphosphor lamps; CAT2 VDU louvers | Reduced maintenance, increased lamp life; Improve light quality; lower electrical load | Ecolite |
| i. Lighting controls | Ensures lights used only in occupied or emergency areas | Ecolite |
| j. Automatic doors, with battery backup for fire / emergencies | Aids access at A&E and main entrances; reduces draughts |
A self-funding project was a key component of the Trust's selection criteria, and was achieved by including conservation initiatives alongside the new Combined Heat and Power unit.
ABB Ltd was appointed main contractor and Cynergin Consultants were retained as advisors to ABB.
Energy and operational savings, amounting to more than £300,000 are guaranteed for the full term of the contract, which includes comprehensive maintenance and all parts and labour as necessary, for 15 years.
A Trust spokesperson said,
"We already knew about performance guaranteed contracts and this ESPC was our second such procurement. ABB was prepared to guarantee energy efficiency savings for the next 15 years, and this project has not only improved the lighting and hot water systems, but will clear up some important backlog issues and make a positive contribution to the Trust's income and expenditure account.
ESPC's are the best way we know of for improving infrastructure, saving money, and doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Cynergin has calculated that the project will deliver an annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 3,200 tonnes.